Vice President Annette Lu said Tuesday that the US government is very concerned about China's plan for a new air route near the median line in the Taiwan Strait. She said the plan was a serious threat to cross-strait security. Lu said Washington thinks China has been very disrespectful to Taiwan by refusing to negotiate with Taipei before registering the new route with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). She believes that the U.S.  would not sit idly by if Beijing goes ahead and inaugurates the route.

Lu also said that the recent failure of two referendums have helped ease Taiwan-U.S. tensions. The referendums held alongside the January 12 elections failed to get the 50 percent turnout needed to be valid.  

Lu said the opposition and ruling parties should integrate their referendum proposals for March's presidential elections. Lu said that they should ask a more neutral question such as "do you agree that our country should become a member of the United Nations as soon as possible?" The planned referendums focus on the name Taiwan should apply under. If the UN referendums fail, she said, they would give the impression that Taiwan does not want to join the UN.

Lu was speaking to reporters on her flight to the Marshall Islands. Lu will also visit Nauru to attend its 40th National Day celebration and visit the Solomon Islands during her trip.